Brazil’s Supreme Court on Thursday convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro of orchestrating a coup plot after his defeat in the 2022 presidential election.
The 70-year-old former leader was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison, concluding a lengthy legal battle that has gripped the nation.
The verdict followed a two-year investigation and trial into Bolsonaro’s alleged actions after he lost the election to his rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Prosecutors presented a case arguing that the former president used his position to incite his followers to reject the election results and storm government buildings in the capital.
The prosecution’s evidence included video recordings of Bolsonaro’s speeches, social media posts, and private communications with allies. The court’s decision was unanimous, with all justices finding Bolsonaro guilty of crimes against the democratic state and the rule of law.
Bolsonaro’s legal team has vowed to appeal the decision, maintaining that the former president is a victim of political persecution. They contend that his actions were expressions of free speech and not a genuine attempt to seize power.
However, legal experts believe the Supreme Court’s verdict is a strong signal that Brazil’s democratic institutions are prepared to defend themselves against any threats. The sentence is considered one of the most severe ever handed down to a former head of state in the country.
The conviction has deepened the political divisions that have defined Brazil in recent years. Supporters of Bolsonaro have condemned the ruling as a politically motivated attack on their leader, while his opponents have hailed it as a victory for democracy.
The sentence has effectively ended any hope of a political comeback for Bolsonaro and has shifted the focus to the future of the conservative movement in Brazil without its most prominent figure.
